In the wake of her aunt's death due to cancer and her recent double mastectomy, Angelina Jolie is sure to generate more headlines after her first public appearance since her bombshell announcement.
Jolie's revelation that she underwent a preventive double mastectomy due to her high risk for developing both breast and ovarian cancer shone a spotlight on genetic testing for inherited diseases. What's not so clear is whether your health insurance company will cover all of the costs.
Mutations in the BRCA1 gene -- which Jolie carries -- and the BRCA2 gene elevate the risk of a woman developing breast and ovarian cancer.
According to FORCE, a nonprofit focused on those with inherited breast and ovarian cancers, a woman with a BRCA mutation faces a 55% to 85% of developing breast cancer, and a 10% to 60% risk for developing ovarian cancer.
In Jolie's case, she had an 87% risk of developing breast cancer and 50% risk of ovarian cancer, she wrote in an Op-Ed article, "My medical choice," for The New York Times.
While some health insurance companies clearly spell out the criteria they use for covering the cost of BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing, that isn't always the case, says Lisa Schlager, vice president of community affairs and public policy with FORCE.
One woman's journey
Maia Magder discovered the vagaries of health insurance companies when seeking BRCA testing. Her mother and maternal aunt both were diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 40, her paternal aunt was diagnosed at age 41, and her maternal grandparents and her brother have had other forms of cancer. (See: "Guide to cancer insurance: 5 must-know facts.")
Magder is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, which puts her at higher risk for carrying a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.
Her insurer was willing to pay for genetic testing -- only if she tested positive for the mutation. She didn't pay out of pocket, but had to sign an agreement stating that if her insurer wouldn't pay, she'd cover the costs.
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Genetic Testing not Always Covered by Insurance